Nicola Lagioia brings 'La città dei vivi' to Teatro India in Rome
On November 8, 2021, writer Nicola Lagioia performed his adaptation of 'La città dei vivi' at Teatro India in Rome, with musical accompaniment by Luca Micheli. The work, published by Einaudi in 2020 and winner of the Premio Lattes Grinzane 2021 with over 80,000 copies sold, recounts the 2016 murder of 23-year-old Luca Varani by Marco Prato and Manuel Foffo in Rome. The stage production follows a five-episode podcast produced by Chora Media and a previous show at Base Milano. The performance features no set or actors; instead, Lagioia narrates directly to the audience, with projected dialogue from interrogations. The show ends with a collective 'atheist prayer for Rome,' inviting each spectator to recall a moment of happiness in the city, a ritual Lagioia first proposed on Facebook during lockdown. The piece explores themes of evil, violence, and desensitization, drawing on Susan Sontag's 'Regarding the Pain of Others.'
Key facts
- Nicola Lagioia performed 'La città dei vivi' at Teatro India in Rome on November 8, 2021.
- The work won the Premio Lattes Grinzane 2021 and sold over 80,000 copies.
- The book was published by Einaudi in 2020.
- The story recounts the 2016 murder of Luca Varani by Marco Prato and Manuel Foffo in Rome.
- A five-episode podcast produced by Chora Media preceded the stage show.
- A previous show was held at Base Milano.
- The performance has no set or actors; Lagioia narrates with projected interrogation dialogues.
- The show ends with an 'atheist prayer for Rome' inviting audience reflection.
- The piece references Susan Sontag's 'Regarding the Pain of Others.'
- Luca Micheli provided musical accompaniment.
Entities
Artists
- Nicola Lagioia
- Luca Micheli
- Susan Sontag
Institutions
- Teatro India
- Einaudi
- Chora Media
- Base Milano
- Corriere della Sera
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Milan